MIGBTB

Molecular mechanisms of germ cell migration across the mammalian blood-testis barrier

Coordinatore	KAROLINSKA INSTITUTET    more  Organization address address: Nobels Vag 5 city: STOCKHOLM postcode: 17177 contact info Titolo: Mr. Nome: Thomas Cognome: Walstam Email: send email Telefono: +468 51 773 487 Fax: +468 51 771 774
Nazionalità Coordinatore	Sweden [SE]
Totale costo	242˙672 €
EC contributo	242˙672 €
Programma	FP7-PEOPLE Specific programme "People" implementing the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013)
Code Call	FP7-PEOPLE-2007-4-2-IIF
Funding Scheme	MC-IIF
Anno di inizio	2009
Periodo (anno-mese-giorno)	2009-01-01   -   2010-12-31

 Partecipanti

#	participant	country	role	EC contrib. [€]
1	KAROLINSKA INSTITUTET  Organization address address: Nobels Vag 5 city: STOCKHOLM postcode: 17177 contact info Titolo: Mr. Nome: Thomas Cognome: Walstam Email: send email Telefono: +468 51 773 487 Fax: +468 51 771 774	SE (STOCKHOLM)	coordinator	0.00
2	LUDWIG INSTITUT FUER KREBSFORSCHUNG  Organization address address: Stadelhoferstrasse 222 city: ZURICH postcode: 8001 contact info Titolo: Ms. Nome: Charlotta Cognome: Linderholm Email: send email Telefono: 468-52487111 Fax: 468-332812	CH (ZURICH)	participant	0.00

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 Obiettivo del progetto (Objective)

'During spermatogenesis, germ cells located in the basal compartment of the seminiferous epithelium of the testis migrate across the blood-testis barrier (BTB) to continue differentiation on the luminal side. This trans-epithelial migration (TEM) requires regular restructuring of junctions present in the BTB. How germ cells pass the BTB, which harbours one of the tightest junctions present in the body, without compromising the integrity of the BTB is poorly understood. Several hypotheses have been put forward, but the mechanism remains unknown. We have recently published evidence for the existence of an intermediate compartment harbouring germ cells in transit across the BTB. This compartment is composed of the tight junction proteins occludin, claudin-3 and CAR. Claudin-3 and CAR appear to be unique to the intermediate compartment since these proteins are not general components of the BTB, and could therefore be used as biological markers. This application is based on these findings. We plan to use several different innovative approaches to uncover mechanisms for TEM and the role of the intermediate compartment in this process. 3D reconstructions of germ cells during TEM will be produced using several imaging techniques including the novel and powerful method of Dual Beam Microscopy. Integrity across the BTB will be analyzed by using tracers of defined size, protein composition of the intermediate compartment will be analyzed using a combination of imaging and gene expression tools and an in vitro model system will be set up using primary cells isolated from testis. Finally, the role of CAR in TEM will be analysed using a conditional CAR knockout mouse that was recently constructed in our laboratory. We expect that results will lead to new insights into mechanisms governing transit of germ cells across the BTB. The study will also be of general interest to reproductive biologists analysing male infertility and to researchers developing new male contraceptives.'